The Alabama basketball team ended the week with a bang, defeating the LSU Tigers 109-88 on Saturday night at Coleman Coliseum to improve to 6-1 in conference play.

After an embarrassing performance against Knoxville last weekend, the Tide was able to pick up two big wins this week against Auburn on Wednesday and LSU on Saturday.

The home crowd in Tuscaloosa was once again wild and sold out, but Alabama got off to a slow start against the Bayou Bengals, trailing just 50-44 at the halftime break.

davin cosby

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— Alabama Men's Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) January 28, 2024

Torrey hit those three from Birmingham!

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— Alabama Men's Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) January 28, 2024

The second half got off to a back-and-forth start, but the Tide eventually stepped on the gas with an 8-0 run to take the lead for good heading into the half with 59 points.

🔥🔥🔥 @Griffenrylan

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— Alabama Men's Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) January 28, 2024

Modita!!

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— Alabama Men's Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) January 28, 2024

Alabama had five players score in double figures, including Mark Sears, who scored 21 points with just six points in the first half. Other players scoring in double figures included Latrell Lightsell Jr. (19 points), Aaron Estrada (18 points), Grant Nelson (12 points) and Rylan Griffen (12 points).

Estrada responded to a tough performance against Auburn with zero points, sitting on the bench for much of the second half, but finished with 18 points with six rebounds and seven assists in 31 minutes of play.

Alabama set a program record by reaching 100 points for the sixth time this season. It was also Alabama's second most points against an SEC team in the Nate Oats era (115 against Georgia in 2021).

Perhaps even more impressive about Saturday night was the Tide at the free throw line, converting 25 of 28, nearly 90 percent.

After the game, head coach Nate Oats said he was happy with the win and how his team was doing, but that they won't be able to compete for a conference championship unless their defense improves.

“I think this team is capable of winning, and we will do our best to win. However, it will be difficult to win unless we fix our defense.”

Alabama briefly held a half-game lead over Tennessee for first place in the conference, but the Vols are 5-1 with just one game this week.

The Tide will next face the Georgia Bulldogs this Wednesday night in Athens.

Michael Brauner is a senior sports analyst and contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP